Principal Team Message

SCHOOL TOURS & 2025 ENROLMENTS 

The month has kicked off with a fantastic start as our School Captains, Asher and Vivienne, along with Mrs. Rose, led the very first school tour of the year. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase all that Ripponlea Primary School has to offer to prospective families in our local community.

If you have a young child starting Foundation in 2025, we encourage you to submit enrolment forms as soon as possible. Early enrolments help us plan ahead to ensure a smooth transition for all our incoming students.

We also know that word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways to share the great things happening at Ripponlea. If you have a neighbor or friend with a school-aged child, please encourage them to visit our website for upcoming tour dates. Seeing our school in action is the best way to experience the warm and welcoming environment we provide for all our learners.

For more information on enrolments, visit our school website or contact the office. We look forward to welcoming new families into our Ripponlea community!

BAYSIDE PRINCIPALS' CONFERENCE: EXPLORING BEST PRACTICE IN EDUCATION

Last week we had the privilege of attending the Bayside Principals' Conference, where we engaged with some of the leading education experts. The conference provided an invaluable opportunity to deepen our understanding of evidence-based teaching practices, curriculum development, and effective implementation strategies, all of which will directly benefit our students and staff at Ripponlea Primary School.

One of the standout speakers was Lorraine Hammond AM, whose extensive research and experience in explicit instruction and early literacy have had a profound impact on education across Australia. Lorraine’s work emphasises high-impact instructional strategies, particularly in the prevention of reading and spelling difficulties. Her insights reinforced the importance of structured, explicit teaching approaches in ensuring all students develop strong foundational literacy skills.

Ben Jensen shared his expertise on developing a knowledge-rich curriculum, highlighting the need for structured content that builds student understanding over time. His work underscored the importance of well-sequenced curriculum planning, ensuring that students progressively develop deep knowledge across subject areas.

We also had the opportunity to learn from Nathaniel Swain, who is currently working with eight of our staff on the implementation of effective readingapproaches, in particular explicit teaching of phonics. Nathaniel focused on the Science of Learning, particularly Cognitive Load Theory, which provides crucial insights into how students acquire and retain knowledge. 

Further deepening our understanding of the Science of Learning, Trisha Jha led insightful discussions on how cognitive science principles can be applied in schools to enhance student outcomes.

Another highlight of the conference was Todd Macbeth’s session on Behaviour as Part of the Curriculum. He provided a practical and research-informed perspective on positive classroom management strategies, reinforcing the idea that effective behaviour support is integral to student learning.

We left the conference inspired and eager to bring our learning back to our staff and students. The knowledge gained from these educational leaders will further strengthen our school’s approach to evidence-based teaching, curriculum design, and student engagement. 

We look forward to exploring these strategies with our team and ensuring that our students continue to benefit from high-impact, research-informed teaching practices.

A WONDERFUL EVENING AT THE WELCOME PICNIC

Our annual Welcome Picnic was a fantastic evening, bringing together many families from both Ripponlea Primary School and Ripponlea Kindergarten. The night began with a lively performance by The RippOffs, our talented parent band, who entertained the crowd with great energy and music.

A highlight of the evening was the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, an important cultural moment for our school community. While Jungala Ellis and Eric Edwards were unable to attend, we were fortunate to have Shane Junior, son of Uncle Shane from the Bunurong Land Council, to lead the ceremony. Shane Junior provided a powerful explanation of the Smoking Ceremony’s significance—a practice that cleanses the space, welcomes people to Country, and connects us to the spirits of the land and ancestors.

As part of this tradition, we buried the leaves from the ceremony in the junior playground, symbolizing our commitment to building on this land with respect and deepening our connection to the Bunurong people, the Traditional Custodians of the land our students learn and play.

Looking ahead, we hope to reflect this connection in our playground design. Some proposed elements include:

🌿 Yarning Circles – spaces for storytelling and learning, fostering connection and shared wisdom.

🌳 Natural Structures – play elements inspired by traditional shelters, using wood, stone, and other natural materials.

🌾 Native Plants and Bush Tucker Gardens – encouraging children to learn about Indigenous flora, their uses, and significance.

🎨 Artwork and Cultural Markings – featuring symbols, hand-carved totems, and murals designed in collaboration with First Nations artists.

🚶‍♂️ Walking Trails and Signage – incorporating Bunurong language and history to teach children about the land they play on.

We have just received updated playground drawings from landscape architects Kath and Lindsey from Fraser Design. It will be exciting for our School Council to review the plans, determine which stages of the project are financially feasible, and hopefully commence work in the current year.

A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who helped make the night such a success! From cooking up delicious sausages to preparing a wonderful spread of treats, your efforts were truly appreciated. A special shoutout to Lee for the delicious cupcakes, and to our resident DJ, Alec (father of Luc and Frances), who kept the atmosphere lively with great music throughout the night.

We were also blessed with the best weather, and the atmosphere was absolutely joyous. Staff were on hand to welcome new families, and the sense of community was stronger than ever with past students coming for a visit too. No one wanted to leave! Families stayed back well past 7 PM, enjoying each other’s company and making the most of a truly special evening.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Welcome Picnic and helped make it a night to remember!

ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY AT RPS

At Ripponlea Primary School, the health and safety of our students are paramount. We are committed to providing a secure environment where children can learn and play with confidence. To ensure this, all staff undergo annual training in First Aid, Anaphylaxis, CPR, Asthma management, and other essential safety protocols. This rigorous training ensures that our team is well-prepared to handle medical situations promptly and effectively.

Children are naturally active and engaged during school hours, particularly during recess and lunch breaks. While we encourage exploration and participation, we also prioritise safety. Our staff members are equipped with the skills and knowledge to respond to medical emergencies, ensuring that students receive immediate and appropriate care when required.

Our training covers:

• First Aid & CPR – Ensuring rapid response to injuries and medical conditions.
• Anaphylaxis & Allergy Management – Recognising and treating severe allergic reactions.
• Asthma Management – Assisting students who experience breathing difficulties.

During recess and lunch, our staff actively supervise all play areas. If a student sustains a minor injury, they will be attended to immediately by on-duty staff. More serious injuries are treated in our dedicated First Aid Room, which is managed by a rotating roster of trained staff members.

If a student sustains an injury, families will receive a COMPASS alert. Any injury above the neck is taken seriously, and for significant head injuries, we activate our concussion protocols, which include continuous monitoring and follow-up procedures including contacting your family.

While we are well-prepared to respond to medical emergencies, it is important to note that the Department of Education (DOE) does not provide insurance for student injuries. If a child requires an ambulance, families will be responsible for the associated costs. We strongly encourage all families to ensure they have ambulance cover and appropriate health insurance to avoid unexpected financial burdens in case of an emergency.

If you have any questions about our First Aid procedures or require further information on how we can administer medication onsite, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

NAPLAN A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE APPROCH AT RPS  

We want to take a moment to talk about NAPLAN 2025 and what it means for our students at Ripponlea Primary School. For our Year 3 students, this will be their first experience with NAPLAN, and we want to ensure they approach it with confidence and a positive mindset.

NAPLAN is a national assessment that provides a snapshot of student progress in literacy and numeracy. It is an adaptive assessment, meaning that questions adjust based on student responses, ensuring each child is appropriately challenged. Importantly, NAPLAN is not a test that requires extensive preparation or rote learning. Instead, it reflects the skills and knowledge students develop over time.

At Ripponlea Primary School, we believe that NAPLAN is just one of many tools we use to understand and support student learning. Throughout the year, we undertake a range of assessments that provide a broader and more detailed picture of each child's progress. 

These assessments help inform our teaching, ensuring that every student receives the support and challenge they need to thrive.

For our Year 3 students, we will be gently introducing them to the assessment format in a way that is stress-free and engaging. 

Our approach includes:

• Building familiarity: We will ensure students understand the online assessment format, so they feel comfortable and prepared on the day.
• Focusing on everyday learning: Literacy and numeracy skills are embedded in our daily curriculum, meaning students are already developing the capabilities assessed in NAPLAN.
• Encouraging a growth mindset: We reinforce that NAPLAN is just one moment in time and not a measure of their full potential.
• Maintaining balance: We remind students that while NAPLAN is important, it does not define them, and their well-being remains our top priority.

We encourage families to support this approach by ensuring their child gets plenty of rest, eats well, and approaches NAPLAN days with a calm and positive attitude. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure our students feel confident and supported as they take on this new experience.

OUR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are always striving to improve and provide the best possible learning environment for our students. As part of this commitment, we follow a Strategic Plan, a long-term vision that sets the direction for the school over four years. This year, we are excited to embark on a School Review in Term 3, a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and plan for the next stage of our improvement journey.

To break our Strategic Plan into meaningful and achievable steps, we develop an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) each year. The AIP ensures that we focus on key priorities that will have the greatest impact on student learning and wellbeing.

What We’re Working on in 2025

✅ Strengthening Teaching & Learning

• Embedding our Instructional Model to ensure clear, structured, and high-impact teaching.
• Supporting teachers to deliver explicit teaching strategies in line with the Victorian Teaching & Learning Model (VTLM 2.0).
• Enhancing our approach to phonics and reading in Foundation to Year 4 through systematic synthetic phonics (Phormes).
• Strengthening student goal-setting and differentiation to ensure every child is challenged at their level.

✅ Enhancing Student Wellbeing

• Establishing consistent classroom routines and positive behaviour expectations (PBS).
• Encouraging students to build self-confidence, motivation, and resilience in their learning.
• Developing individual learning plans (IEPs) to support students academically and socially.
• Strengthening transition routines to create a structured and supportive learning environment.

✅ Building Collaborative Teacher Practices

• Supporting Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to ensure teachers plan effectively using student data.
• Implementing peer observations, learning walks, and coaching to maintain consistency in teaching approaches.
• Using five-week implementation cycles to track progress and refine teaching strategies.

We look forward to keeping our community informed about our progress and inviting families to be part of our journey. Together, we can ensure the best outcomes for all students at Ripponlea Primary School!

Until next fortnight!

Natalie Rose             &                        Marta Campbell 

      Principal                                         Assistant Principal